Former US ambassador to Bangladesh William Milam passes away

Former United States ambassador to Bangladesh William B Milam passed away on Tuesday in Sacramento, the capital of the US state of California. He was 89.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Mexico Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey confirmed the news on Wednesday night, citing Milam’s daughter, Erika Milam, and former US diplomat to Bangladesh Jon F Danilowicz.

Milam was a career diplomat who entered the US Foreign Service in 1962. 

He had served as the US ambassador to Bangladesh from 1990 to 1993. He stood by the people of Bangladesh during the fall of the autocratic Ershad regime and the country’s journey toward democracy.

Before retirement, he was the ambassador to Pakistan from 1998 to 2001.

Milam had served as the US chief of mission in Liberia from 1995 to 1998. During his tenure in Liberia, the seven-year civil war ended, free and transparent elections were held, and a new democratically elected government took office.

He retired from the US Foreign Service at the end of July 2001 but was recalled after 11 September, and spent nine months helping to set up the multilateral mechanism for the reconstruction of Afghanistan. He was also recalled to serve as interim chargé d'affaires at the United States Embassy in Tripoli, Libya.

From the Department of State, Milam received the James Clement Dunn Award, as the outstanding Class I officer (1981) and a Superior Honor Award (1983). He received a Presidential Meritorious Service Award (1990) and a Presidential Award for Outstanding Service (1991).

Condolences

Mushfiqul Fazal Ansarey and Jon Danilowicz expressed their condolences over the death of William B Milam in separate Facebook posts.

Dubbing the former US ambassador “a true friend of Bangladesh,” Mushfiqul wrote, “While I was in Dhaka, a sudden piece of sad news shook me deeply. William Bill Milam, former US ambassador and a true friend of Bangladesh, has passed away…I am stunned by grief and deeply saddened.”

He said, “The passing of Bill Milam is an irreparable loss. Bangladesh has lost a true friend, and I have lost a wise mentor and a caring guardian. His memory will remain a source of inspiration on my journey. I pray for the peace of his soul.”

In his Facebook post, Jon Danilowicz wrote, “Today I am deeply saddened by the passing of my friend and mentor Ambassador William B Milam. Bill passed peacefully yesterday [Tuesday] having lived long enough to see democracy restored in his beloved Bangladesh.  

“I had the honor to work for Bill in both Bangladesh and Pakistan and again after retirement in the non profit human rights group he founded. But he was much more than a boss—he was a friend, a mentor and a father figure. One of the great pleasures of my life was accompanying Bill on his long awaited return visit to Bangladesh a year ago. I thank all those who helped make that visit such a success.”  

Danilowicz said, “I will have more to say about Bill’s life and legacy in the coming days. We at Right to Freedom will also continue the important work he started to promote democracy and freedom. Farewell and Rest in Peace Ambassador.”

In March 2025, while addressing a dialogue in Dhaka, Milam said he had been denied a visa to visit Bangladesh in the past 10 years during the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League regime.

Milam, who had been advocating for human rights and democracy in Bangladesh for the past five years, said that, as a retired diplomat, he wrote extensively and that his articles made him an enemy of those in power.